Ten top Sports of Boston experts are competing in the SoB NBA Pick ‘Em this go-around, in what promises to be an intriguing NBA season. At least five NBA teams have legitmate shots to win the NBA Title, and remarkably, three of them are in the Eastern Conference (Cavaliers, Celtics, Magic), with the other two teams hanging high out West (Lakers, Spurs).

The rest of the league, however, is quite difficult to judge. It seems that teams are going to play like crazy just for this season because most of their rosters will be gutted come June. Why? Well, I’m sure you’ve heard of the NBA free agent frenzy of 2010! Remember, LeBron is going to sign with the Knicks because they play in New York? Oh brother…

Speaking of the Knicks, they don’t appear anywhere on our picks. Surprised? You better not be.

The Rules

Picking the division champions correctly will earn a player two points. Note: The three division champs and the top Wild Card team in each conference are seeded 1-4 by record, followed by the rest of the teams in order of record. Theoretically, a team could finish second in their division (and finish as the top Wild Card team), but ahead of other division winners by record in the conference.

If a player chooses a team to win the division, but they don’t and still make the playoffs, that’s worth one point.

Players then picked teams for the rest of the playoffs in each conference. Doing so correctly will earn the player one point.

If a player chooses a team to make the playoffs but not win the division…and that team wins their division, that is still worth one point.

Teams picked to make the playoffs that actually miss the playoffs are worth zero points.

Earning Extra Credit

Competitors will receive extra credit for predicting teams to finish in exact playoff seeds. What does that mean?

So, if a player selected the Celtics to be the top seed, and they finish as the top seed, he/she will be awarded eight extra points.

If a player chooses the Cavaliers to be the No. 2 seed, and they finish as the No. 2 seed, he/she will be awarded seven extra points.

Likewise, if a player chooses the Wizards to be the eighth seed, and they are the eighth seed, he/she will be awarded one extra point.

If a player chooses the Celtics to be the top seed, and they end up as the No. 2 or No. 3 seed (or worse), then he/she receives no extra credit. The extra credit only applies if the team appears in the exact chosen spot.

Players can earn a maximum of 72 extra points (36 per conference), and a maximum of 94 points overall.

Now, without further ado…the picks:

EAST

A.J.

Brian

Chris

Erikk

John

KC

Mike P.

Nate

Pete

Teddy

#1*

Celtics

Cavaliers

Celtics

Celtics

Magic

Celtics

Celtics

Magic

Cavaliers

Celtics

#2*

Cavaliers

Celtics

Cavaliers

Magic

Cavaliers

Magic

Magic

Celtics

Celtics

Cavaliers

#3*

Magic

Magic

Magic

Cavaliers

Celtics

Cavaliers

Cavaliers

Cavaliers

Magic

Magic

#4

Hawks

Hawks

Hawks

Bulls

Hawks

Hawks

Bulls

Hawks

Hawks

Bulls

#5

Bulls

Wizards

Bulls

Hawks

Bulls

Bulls

Hawks

Bulls

Pacers

Hawks

#6

Heat

Heat

Heat

Heat

76ers

Heat

76ers

Heat

Heat

Wizards

#7

Raptors

Bulls

76ers

Raptors

Wizards

Raptors

Raptors

76ers

Pistons

Heat

#8

Wizards

Pacers

Raptors

Pistons

Pistons

Wizards

Heat

Raptors

Bulls

Pistons

WEST

A.J.

Brian

Chris

Erikk

John

KC

Mike P.

Nate

Pete

Teddy

#1*

Lakers

Lakers

Lakers

Lakers

Lakers

Lakers

Lakers

Lakers

Lakers

Spurs

#2*

Spurs

Spurs

Spurs

Spurs

Nuggets

Spurs

Nuggets

Blazers

Spurs

Lakers

#3*

Jazz

Nuggets

Nuggets

Nuggets

Mavericks

Nuggets

Spurs

Spurs

Blazers

Jazz

#4

Nuggets

Blazers

Jazz

Blazers

Spurs

Jazz

Blazers

Nuggets

Mavericks

Mavericks

#5

Hornets

Jazz

Mavericks

Mavericks

Jazz

Blazers

Hornets

Mavericks

Nuggets

Hornets

#6

Suns

Suns

Blazers

Jazz

Blazers

Hornets

Mavericks

Hornets

Hornets

Blazers

#7

Mavericks

Hornets

Hornets

Hornets

Clippers

Mavericks

Warriors

Jazz

Rockets

Clippers

#8

Blazers

Clippers

Suns

Clippers

Hornets

Suns

Thunder

Suns

Suns

Thunder

If you’d like to join in on the Pick ‘Em, comment and submit your picks below!